Greenwood supports bills requiring Illinois to buy local

Staff report

Published
12:38 pm CDT, Saturday, May 6, 2017

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Greenwood supports bills requiring Illinois to buy local

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EAST ST. LOUIS – State Rep. LaToya Greenwood, D-East St. Louis, is working to keep more of our tax dollars here in Illinois and invest in local jobs by working to pass two pieces of legislation that will require Illinois state agencies to buy locally.

“Local businesses put people in our communities to work, so it only makes sense that we use our tax dollars to support these local employers and create local jobs, instead of sending our money overseas by buying from big foreign corporations,” said Greenwood. “I believe we should be seeking ways to keep more of our money here at home and boost our economy instead of outsourcing our taxpayer dollars out of the state or overseas.”

Greenwood voted to pass House Bill 137, which mandates that state agencies must purchase American made products when making any type of purchase of goods. Greenwood also supported a companion bill, House Bill 138, which mandates that state agencies must purchase Illinois manufactured goods when making any type of purchase of goods, if possible. If no plausible source is found, they are then required to purchase products made in America. The bills state that the products must be made up of more than 50 percent American or Illinoisan components. Certain restrictions are included, for items such as pharmaceutical drugs or when the price or quality does not meet the standards sought.

“It is time we lift up Illinois and assure our local businesses that we want to invest in them, because our local communities and jobs matter,” said Greenwood. “I look forward to these measures becoming law and I will continue to stand up for our local business.”